Wire-stretcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' L'. E. SUNDERLAND.

WIRE sTRBTG-HBR.' Y 210.291.955. l Patented Jan'. 15, 1884.

N. PETERS. PhuhwuxiuugmprmrA washington D, c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. E. SUNDERLAND. WIRE STRETGHER. No. 291,955.- Patented Jan. 15, 1884,.

N. PETEns Plwlu-Lichogrnphur. washington, Dy C.

lin-iran Starts maar irren.

LESLTE E. SUNDERLAND, OF JOLIEF'ILLIOS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPEFCA'TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,955, dated January 15, lS.

Application filed May 21., ISS-5. (Xo model.)

.T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern. Be it known that I, LESLIE E. SUNDER- LAND, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Joliet, in the county of NVill and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure lis a plan view on the top; Fig. 2, a side view; Fig. 3, a central cross-section of the windlass; Fig. 4, aside view of the lower end of the operating-lever; Fig. 5, a plan View on the top of the windlass; Fig. 6, a view of the stretching-rope; Fig. 7, a side view of the lower end of the operating-lever, showing a spring-pawl attached to its side, and Fig. S, is a perspective View.

This device is for stretching cords or wires, and is intended more particularly to be used to stretch fence-wires; and it relates to certain im.- provements therein, which I will now more particularly explain by reference to t-he drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the stock or body of the device, intended to be made of east metal, and having one end terminating in a fork, between the extremities of which is located a drum or windlass, a, upon which the rope d is wound. The other end of the stock or body a is provided with a clutch, to grasp and hold t-he fence-wire W, as shown in Fig. l. This clutch consists of a dog, D2, held or pivoted on the frame a by the rivet D and washer D, so that it may revolve. One side or edge of the dog DL is serrated or toothed, and projects like a cam against the upturned serrated face m, between which and it the wire lV is grasped. The cap .a prevents the wire W' from falling out. rlhe drum or windlass a is provided at one end with the head a, to prevent the rope d from running off the drum, and at the other end with the ratchet B, serving the same purpose, both head and ratchet being integral with drum a. The shaft S passes loosely through the frame c and drum a', so that it can be removed forthe purpose hereinafter named. The apertures through the two heads of the drum a are of the same diameter as the shaft S, while the inner diameter of the drum a is considerably greater than that of the shaft S, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which is for the purpose of securing one end of the rope d to the drum. The rope dis attached to the drum by first removing the shaft Sand in- 5 5 serting the end of the rope througha hole in the side of the drum, as shown at 0, Fig. 3. The shaft S is then driven in so that the end of the rope is held tightlybetween the shaft S and theinner wall of the drum, as shown in said 6o Fig. 8. By this means of fastening, no knot is required on that end of the rope, and the surface of the drum is left free to wind the rope on. The apparatus for rotating the drum to wind up the rope consists of the lever G, t-he lower 6 5 end of which is pivoted on the shaft S, next outside the ratchet B by the long slot B. (Shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4.) The side of the lever C next the ratchet B has an integral projection, P, acting as a pawl to 7o engage the teeth of the ratchet B. A reciprocating motion backward and forward of the lever C will drive the ratchet forward, where it is held by the detent-pawl l?l until the lever C can return for a new hold on the ratchet R. 7 5 The slot B permits the projection P on the lever C to slide backward over the ratchet-teeth. If desired, a spring click or pawl might be attached to the side of lever C, as shown in Fig. 7, and the slot B dispensed with, which might Se answer the same purpose; but the construction first described and shown in Figs. l, 2, and et is preferred. The lever C is hollow at its outer end to receive an extension-handle for greater leverage. In case a chain is desired in place 85 of the rope, the drum R may be constructed with a serpentineannnlar channel, g, as shown in Fig. 5, to receive the chain Z, the form of the channel g serving to hold the chain frictionally. The outer end of the rope d is in- 9o tended to be providedwith a clutch for grasp-Y ing the wire \V, as shown in Fig. l. In ease it is desired to pull the two broken ends of a fence-wire together, so that they maybe reunited, as shown in Fig. Sp, the rope d is first 9 5 unwound from the drum, and the clutch on its outer end made fast to one loose end of wire YV, while the other loose end of said wire is held by the clutch on the frame c., as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The lever C is then operated, roc

as before stated, until the two ends of the wire are drawn near enough together to Abe united. A release of the pawl C from the ratchet R will permit the drum a to turn backward and unwind the rope d from the drum a.

\Vhen it is desired merely to stretch the wires IV taut by a pull on one end, so that they can be attached to the posts, the rope d may be hooked around a convenient post or tree or any object by means ofthe hook q, (shown in Fig. 6,) the hook q forming the knot to hold the rope attached to the clutch at that end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit:

l. In the VWire-stretcher described, the combination ofthe body or frame a, provided with. a suitable clutch at one end to .grasp and hold the wire W, slotted lever C, having the pawl i I), and journaled by its slot on the shaft S,

drum-ratchet R, drum a', having an annular inner chamber between its vends surrounding the removable shaft S, for the reception of the end of the rope (Z through a hole in the side of said drum, removable shaft S, adapted to be withdrawn and driven through said drum a, to retain the end of said rope within said drum between its inner walls and said shaft S, detent-pawl P', having the extended handle C', and rope d, provided with a suitable clutch or hook, q, at its outer end, all arranged to oper- 

